I rarely walk my dog. Because I’m a trail runner, I run with him, but even when injuries stop me from running, I still don’t walk my dog. In fact, many dog trainers I know don’t walk their dogs. Personally, I find dog walks boring and stressful. My dog finds dog walks boring and stressful. …
Dog Training
Hand feeding your dog their daily meals is one of the most powerful tools to train your dog new skills. In addition, you will build motivation, develop a stronger bond, and improve their behavior. I use it to teach dogs new behaviors in all of my training. The reason hand feeding your dog is so …
The first step in successful training a dog is through clear communication. In order to do this, we teach the dog a set of marker words that pair a sound or word to a behavior through classical conditioning. Dogs don’t speak English, nor is their primary method of communication verbal, like it is for humans. …
Aversive tools in dog training are a controversial topic. Certain dog training tools and methods, namely prong collars and e-collars are regularly cited as abusive and unnecessary in dog training, primarily by dog trainers who label themselves as Positive Reinforcement Only or Force Free. They are banned across many countries in Europe, and a movement …
There are many reasons someone would want to use an e-collar with their dog that has nothing to do with behavioral issues. A lot of dog owners think that e-collars are only for “bad dogs,” but that’s not true at all. That’s just one of the many myths about e-collar use in dog training. While e-collars …
I generally do not allow strangers to approach or pet my dog, and I never allow on-leash greetings with other dogs. The culture in the dog world has created the assumption that it is OK and normal to pet other people’s dogs in public spaces. There are even shirts that say “pet all the dogs.” …
If your dog isn’t a bite risk, why would you ever need to muzzle train your dog? Because muzzles rock. Truly. They have a poor connotation associated with aggressive dogs, but the truth is, they can be incredibly useful tools for any dog. Yes, even the most friendly of dogs can benefit from wearing a …
When you’re short on time or the weather is uninviting, enrichment activities are a great way to give your dog some mental stimulation when you can’t give them physical activity. The enrichment activities below are all super simple, take just a few minutes to prepare, and use items that you already have in your house. …
I learned the hard way that my dog was not ready to hike off-leash during a trail run on an on-leash trail. Sixteen miles into an 18-mile run, Sora and I came upon a group of senior birders on a single track trail. Sora, with plenty of energy reserves, was off leash and I was …
Knowing what I know now about dog socialization, the dog park is a place I avoid entirely, unless I’m sticking to the outside to work on training. The purpose of dog parks is to create what is meant to be a safe space for dog owners to take their dogs to play and get some …